The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-27
FRUIT CULTURE IN HOUSTON.
How the Famous Willow Lake Muir
sery was Started.
From the Perry (GaO Jomrnal.

From the Perry (Go) Journal
Twenty years ago, in 1867, Mr. $. IL.
Rumph conceived the idea of cultivating
peaches and other fruits for profit. He was
then a lad of about 16 years of age, mex
perienced in fruit growing, but full of de-
termination to find out for himself if his
scheme could be made profitable, His neigh-
bors tried to dissuade him by argument and
ridicule, but hepersisted. His first venture
was the purchase of a few varieties of choice
peach trees. The first crop from these trees
was a surprise to all the neighbors, and soon
Sam RumphS peaches" were rec ogllzed as
the best in the neighborhoOd Hi neigh
bOrS wanted to buy some trees of the same
sort. He then decided to increase his stock
of trees, and in order to do this an re was
planted with seeds from peach II ees grow
ing in the old fields on the farm. These
young sprouts were utilized as grating
stock for his choice varieties. When these
grated and budded trees grew a year, he
was enabled to offer n few for sale, and
thus originated the famous Willow Lake
Nursery, superior to which there is no fruit
nursery in the South Mr.. Rumph has con-
tinued as he began, relying chiefly upon his
own judgment, proved by experience. VIII
low Lake Nursery, as our readers Know, is
in Houston county, about twelve miles west
of Perry, and about four miles east Of Mar
shallville. As may be supposed, the name
was derived from body of water with will
low trees on its banks. A recent visit dis
closed the fact that the water has disap-
peared, but large willow tree still marks
the spot. The nursery has become famous,
and is to-day most pleasant and profitable
monument to the energy, perseverance, hon
esty and good judgment of Mr.. Rumph
From the trees sold from the first acre of
peach trees, Mr. Rumph began to appre-
ciate that there was something in the fruit
business, and every wear since his nursery
acreage has been increased. From to 2,
to 5, to TO- until now he has about 90 acres
i'll the nursery fruit trees, berries and
grapes, and has for sale this fall $50, 900
worth of stock. This nursery stock con-
sist of 4S varieties of apples, SO of peaches,
Is of pears, 5 of plums, 10 of grapes, 3 of
ounces, 8 Of mulberries, of figs, s of
Strawberries; 5 of raspberries, in all 153 va
rietieS that he is willing to recommend as be-
ing adapted for market and home use in
the South. He has other varieties with
which he is experimenting.
Mr.. Rumph personally supervises the bud
ing and grating of his young trees, doing
much of this work with his own hands
He does not sell tree that he is not abso-
lutely satisfied is true to name and in a
healthy condition. In,this way he has eS-
tablished record for honesty and integ
rity that places him at the head of the list
of nursery men.
Besides the nursery business Mr.; Rumph
raises fruits extensively for market. He
originated the celebrated liberia peach, the
best market peach now grown, and the Ell
beta fruit farm, belong to himself and Mr.
B. I. Moore, his father-in-law, contains 20
600 trees on 110 acres. His acreage in fruits
besides the nursery, amounts to about 400
acres. His Cleveland orchard, containing
10000 trees, has paid 10 per cent on the in
vestment on saMly 4, and shipping not
through with 1Ihe transplanting of this
orchard was finished the day President
Cleveland was inaugUrated.
Two years ago he sold for $500 the wild
goose plums from three-fourths of an acre;
trees years old.
He ships trees and fruits North, South,
East and West.
In his orchard he has grated, budded and
Seeding trees 90 years old, still thrifty, and
in good bearing condition.
This year only those trees on land with
clay sub-sOil retained their fruit; the cold
killed all fruits on other trees, therefore his
sales of fruit this year will be comparative
ly light He shipped Strawberries from same
plants continually from April 10 to July 10,
this year.
Mr. Rumph evaporates his inferior fruit,
makes vinegar from his refuse apples makes
wine from the grapes he does not ship, and
keeps apples for home use from one crop I'M
til the next crop is ready for use He makes
his own shipping crates. He is, in fact, full
ly equipped for the fruit business in every
particular. His hands are well trained, some
of them having been in his employ fifteen
years. His chief man, a white man, has
been with him thirteen years.